The Elevator Short Story Units - Middle School Short Story - Reading Task Cards

The Elevator by William Sleator - Complete Short Stories with Reading Comprehension Questions and Task Cards - This package contains everything you need to teach this spooky short story, including The Elevator comprehension questions, answer keys, short story annotations activities, biography, task cards, and graphic organizers. These elevator activities are classroom tested and include creative handouts templates, and detailed instructions. Very little teacher prep is needed – simply print and teach!

✅Be sure to check out the preview and thumbnails for detailed images and descriptions about everything included in this 60+ page resource!

This creative and engaging package includes the following:

⭐William Sleator Biography and Activities: A detailed reading passage all about the life of William Sleator is included, in 2 versions - with and without built in annotation activity. A complete set of comprehension questions to go along with the passage (with answer key) and fact gathering template are also included.

⭐The Elevator Comprehension Questions: A full page of questions to go along with the story are included, as well as a detailed answer key!

⭐Reading Strategy Question Pages: A full set of reading strategy based question pages are included, asking students to question, determine importance, visualize, and more. Use all of the pages, or choose the ones that work best for your students.

⭐Story Element Analysis Worksheet: For this activity, students must examine the protagonist, antagonist, point of view, conflict, and setting of the story. They must also provide a short summary of the story. A detailed answer key is included.

⭐Comprehension Pennant Project: A fun pennant activity is included as an alternate to the traditional comprehension questions and story analysis worksheets. For this, students record the same information, but in a fun pennant format. Templates and full instructions to create these giant pennant projects are included. They make wonderful Halloween bulletin board display!

⭐Story Analysis Task Cards: 12 different task cards relating to the story are included, on the following topics:

-Figurative Language

-Setting and Mood

-Character Analysis

-Theme Identification

-Point of View

-Symbolism

-Comparison

-Personal Reflection

-Reader Response

-Vocabulary Development

-Literary Devices

-Imagery

Instructions with 4 ways to use the task cards, as well as an answer key and recording sheet, are also included.

⭐Plot Diagram: Students use the included plot diagram to record key events in this spooky story.

⭐Vocabulary Words and Activities: A full list of vocabulary words with corresponding activities are included.

⭐The Elevator Graphic Organizers: A wide variety of different graphic organizers to use along with the story are included. These ask students to look carefully at key events and characters in the story, and present their findings in creative ways.

⭐Close Reading Information - Short Story Annotations Activities: Multiple pages of Close Reading information are included, in case you would like to have students use this effective reading strategy as they read through the story. A handy student annotation guide is also included.

⭐TPT Digital Easel Activity - A digital version of this resource has been added for you to use online with your learners. All of the teacher pages and answer keys have been removed, so it is ready to assign. Text boxes have been added for you, so students can easily type in answers. Activities that are not designed to be done online, such as graphic organizers that require artistic elements and art based projects have been removed from the digital version of this resource.

What others are saying about this resource:

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"The students really liked this resource. It made them think about a lot of different aspects of the story "The Elevator." Their favorite part was getting to draw what they thought the characters looked like. I plan on using it again."

-Michael D

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"This was an excellent resource to use with my 6th graders. There were many activities which were nicely laid out. Thank you!"

-Jessica F

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"This was a visually engaging product that allowed my students to think about mood and character after reading the story."

-School Supply Junkie

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"A great resource that really covered everything I was looking for. Thanks!"

-Theresa L

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